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ABA Law Day: Sample Programs: Third Infantry Division - Fort Stewart, 2000




 
Sample Programs

Third Infantry Division Office of the Staff Judge Advocate (Fort Stewart, GA)

Contact:

Louis Birdsong, Chief
Claims (Law Day Coordinator)
88 Carrington Road
Fort Stewart, GA 31314-5039
E-mail: BirdsongLA@EMH5.stewart.army.mil

THIRD INFANTRY DIVISION LAW DAY 2000

Activity Summary:

The 3ID Law Day 2000 activities included a Staff Ride to Andersonville, Georgia; a Mock Trial of Henry Wirtz; a 2.5-hour class on Andersonville; a half-an-hour class on the Code of Conduct; two mock trials by elementary school children; six one-hour classes on the legal profession and processes to 5th- and 6th-grade students on the installation; an elementary school Law Day Speech Contest; a golf tournament; and an office picnic.

Activity Narrative:

The 3rd Infantry Division (MECH) Office of the Staff Judge Advocate (OSJA) designed its Law Day activities to reach several audiences. To effectuate this plan, OSJA leadership developed a multilevel and multidimensional plan that included classroom instruction, hands-on learning experiences, visual presentations (both media and live), and large-scale involvement of personnel. Creativity was also emphasized in order to achieve the goals of Law Day 2000.

Goal One: Increase Public Awareness of the Law. The OSJA invested over 65 hours to teach and mentor the 5th- and 6th-grade students of Diamond and Brittin Elementary Schools in their understanding of the law and legal processes. The OSJA achieved this goal.

Goal Two: Highlight Law Day 2000 Theme - Celebrate Your Freedom. The OSJA emphasized the celebration of freedom theme in all aspects of Law Day activities. The Staff Ride to the Civil War Prisoner of War Museum and Civil War prison site at Andersonville, Georgia along with the class on the same subject is a good example. Also, the speech contest topic was celebrating freedom. In essence, every aspect of the 3ID Law Day 2000 Program adopted this theme.

Goal Three: Outreach to Communities. This year, the OSJA targeted post schools in its Law Day planning. Both schools participated heavily in the execution of Law Day activities. Approximate number of students directly participating: 210 - 220.

Goal Four: Partnerships Formed. The OSJA established excellent working relationships with both installation elementary schools, the National Park personnel at Andersonville, Georgia, and the Coastal Heritage Society in Savannah, Georgia. Next year, one goal is to include the local bar in all activities.

Goal Five: Creativity and Innovation. The OSJA specifically used several dramatically different approaches to Law Day Activities.

  1. The Andersonville Staff Ride was a unique learning experience that no amount of classroom preparation could replicate.
  2. The Henry Wirz mock trial was a live presentation by OSJA members, complete with era appropriate costumes that provided a dramatic glimpse at how freedom is costly.
  3. The mock trials by the 5th and 6th grade elementary school classes were especially powerful. The trials included one civil case involving gender discrimination and one criminal case involving drunk driving. Unconventional in that no scripts were used, the students (with OSJA mentors) prepared their own opening and closing arguments, examined and cross-examined live witnesses, and tried to convince fellow students of the merits of their client’s case. The students conducted all aspects of the trial including the roles of attorneys, accused (and plaintiff in the civil case), judge, bailiff, witnesses, reporters, and jury members.
  4. The classroom instruction of the elementary students was extensive and well planned. Additionally, the slide presentation on Andersonville was extensive and involved media and audio support.
  5. The speech contest was also well conceived and coordinated with the local elementary schools.

Goal Six: Follow Up Activities. Already, both participating schools have expressed a strong desire to repeat the Law Day 2000 activities in 2001. Both schools want to expand the speech contest and mock trials. The OSJA will carefully craft a 2001 Program designed to continue promoting the law in conjunction with Law Day.

Learn more about having students create their own mock trials.

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